Tornadoes rip through parts of Midwest; 2 killed

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Firefighters search for unaccounted people on Friday, April 10, a day after a tornado swept through Fairdale, Illinois. Geraldine M. Schultz, 67, was killed when the tornado tore through town, according to Dennis Miller with the DeKalb County coroner. As many as 14 tornadoes were reported in the rural Midwest on Thursday.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Houses and property lie in ruin April 10 in Fairdale.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A tractor-trailer lies on its side April 10 in Rochelle, Illinois. It was knocked over while parked the previous night.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Candy Trudell looks through the wreckage of her home in Rochelle on April 10.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

The Kirkland Fire Department walks along a highway while searching for unaccounted people in Fairdale on April 10.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Firefighters tie a U.S. flag to a fallen tree limb in Fairdale on April 10.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A rescue worker searches through wreckage in Fairdale on Thursday, April 9.

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A family surveys the wreckage in Fairdale on April 9.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A dog is rescued from a destroyed home in Fairdale on April 9.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A tornado is seen from a home in Kirkland, Illinois, on April 9.

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A storm moves over U.S. Route 20 in Belvidere, Illinois, on April 9.

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Story highlights

National Weather Service preliminarily rates tornado as an EF-4

At least two people are dead as a result of storms in Illinois, officials say

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Before and after tornado damage

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The National Weather Service Friday preliminarily rated the tornado as an EF-4 -- the second most powerful category, with winds between 166 and 200 mph.

In Fairdale, nearly 20 homes were leveled, Connell said.

"We hope and pray that that is all," Gov. Bruce Rauner said Friday. "We're very blessed that more people were not hurt."

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle's house in Rochelle, Illinois, was a mound of rubble when he arrived at dawn Friday.

Fortunately, his wife and children were out of town when the tornado struck Thursday night. VanVickle was working at the time, he said. His brother-in-law and sister-in-law, who live across the street, were also out.Their home was leveled as well; at least 30 houses were destroyed by the twister. Nearly 50 homes sustained significant damage.

"The family is safe," the sheriff said. "That's all that matters. By God's grace, nobody was home. ... Things can be replaced."

Even his dog survived: It was found in the ruins, resting atop the mattress of VanVickle's daughter.

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Severe storm threat for 95 million people

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Severe storm threat for 95 million people01:02

It could have been worse as severe tornado damage dotted a path not far from the dense populations of Chicago and Rockford, the state's third-largest city. The tornado cut a 22-mile path through Ogle County, according to disaster management coordinator Tom Richter.

Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Firefighters search for unaccounted people on Friday, April 10, a day after a tornado swept through Fairdale, Illinois. Geraldine M. Schultz, 67, was killed when the tornado tore through town, according to Dennis Miller with the DeKalb County coroner. As many as 14 tornadoes were reported in the rural Midwest on Thursday.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Houses and property lie in ruin April 10 in Fairdale.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A tractor-trailer lies on its side April 10 in Rochelle, Illinois. It was knocked over while parked the previous night.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Candy Trudell looks through the wreckage of her home in Rochelle on April 10.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

The Kirkland Fire Department walks along a highway while searching for unaccounted people in Fairdale on April 10.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

Firefighters tie a U.S. flag to a fallen tree limb in Fairdale on April 10.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A rescue worker searches through wreckage in Fairdale on Thursday, April 9.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A family surveys the wreckage in Fairdale on April 9.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A dog is rescued from a destroyed home in Fairdale on April 9.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A tornado is seen from a home in Kirkland, Illinois, on April 9.

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Photos:Tornadoes slam Midwest

A storm moves over U.S. Route 20 in Belvidere, Illinois, on April 9.

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Landmark restaurant

North of Rochelle, a tornado took away a local favorite restaurant: Grubsteakers. "It's kind of one of your little greasy spoon restaurants," said Eric Widick, who drove up in his truck to help out.

"We're a community. If one person is in need, we'll all be there for them."

People were inside when the storm quashed Grubsteakers and turned over a semitruck parked outside. No one was killed or seriously injured, Widick said. A patron who found shelter in a restroom was trapped inside for about half an hour.

People had been eating at Grubsteakers for some 25 years and will miss it, Widick said.

In Rochelle, the tornado flattened some of the homes of Olson's friends.

A safe distance away from it, at her mother's house, she had to think about her husband, Chet, who was re-elected mayor of the town of about 10,000 people the previous day. He'd have a job ahead of him.

"I have not been able to get a hold of him," Olson said, "but I know he's in touch with the sheriff and is safe," she said.

VanVickle was newly elected sheriff of Rochelle on Wednesday. On Thursday, the storm took his house and his sister-in-law's. "I've got the clothes on my back," he said.

On Friday, VanVickle attended a news conference with Rauner, who praised the sheriff.

"He's been serving around the clock -- along with his entire team -- with no sleep," the governor said. "Thank you for your service."

It was the first tornado VanVickle had ever seen in his county.

"I've lived here all my life, am the fifth generation in the county. My mom said this is the first time she's ever seen a tornado."

He said he is thankful the National Weather Service warned one could come. Sirens provided residents with 27 minutes of lead time. That saved lives, he said.

"We didn't have a single fatality in the county," said VanVickle, standing in front of the ruins that were once his home. "You count your blessings and you thank God -- even though you see what's behind you -- thank God that everybody's safe."

For the time being, VanVickle and his family will stay with relatives.

"The nice part is we live in the Midwest and everyone takes care of their own," he said.

The weather service warned of a "particularly dangerous situation." People across the Midwest should be on alert for severe weather. Tornado watches ran out early Friday. Severe thunderstorms are possible Friday afternoon or evening from parts of the mid-Atlantic region to the Gulf Coast states.